XX.xii. THE SECOND WINTER MEETING. 



Castle had, under the Ancient Monuments Act, been transferred 

 to the guardianship of the Commissioners of Works. Mr. C. S. 

 Prideaux's satisfactory investigation of a large barrow or 

 extensive burial place at Portland in 1907 was mentioned with 

 approval. 



EXHIBITS. 



A series of relics of King Charles I., sent by Major Benett-Stanford, of 

 Tisbury. The first was a plaster cast of the face of the king, taken from the 

 original cast taken from the king's face immediately after his execution, and one 

 of a small number given to his intimate personal friends. This one was given to 

 Mildmay, Earl of Westmoreland, who was present at the king's burial at 

 Windsor. Then there were shown in two glass cases the pair of gloves carried to 

 the scaffold by the king and handed to Bishop Juxon a few seconds before the 

 execution. Some letters of the king were also exhibited. 



The PRESIDENT said he was sorry that Major Benett-Stanford could not be 

 there that day, but he had kindly sent those exhibits, for which they were very 

 grateful to him. The Rev. S. E. V. Filleul had brought a copy of the warrant 

 signed for the death of Charles I. and also a picture of the execution and a copy 

 of the " Eikou Basilike " containing a very fine picture of King Charles. Mr. 

 VEEE OLIVER said that Thomas Benett, of Pyt House, was military secretary to 

 Prince Rupert, and carried on a great deal of correspondence with prominent 

 Royalists at the time. Some years ago his uncle, the late Mr. Vere Benett- 

 Stanford, found a large number of letters, over a thousand, in an old box. He 

 began tearing some of them up until, catching sight of the signature " Charles 

 Rex" at the bottom of one of them, he stopped and saved the rest. Tb.3 

 PRESIDENT said they ought to pass a special vote of thanks to Major Benett- 

 Stanford for sending those valuable exhibits. 



A RARE WILD GLADIOLUS. The botanists present were much interested in a 

 beautiful specimen of the wild gladiolus of the New Forest (Gladiolus illyricus), 

 brought by Dr. Dixon, of Bournemouth. It was not found in Dorset, and was 

 indeed found only in the New Forest, and there for the first time in 1857 by ths 

 Rev. W. H. Lucas. So rare was this flower that the Linnseau Society in London 

 had not a specimen in their herbarium. He also showed a beautiful photograph 

 of the gladiolus growing among the bracken, which is its favourite habitat. 



"THE LAST OF THE MARTYNS " AT ATHELHAMPTON. Mr. HENRY SYMONDS, 

 of Rouudham, Bridport, exhibited two deeds, beautiful specimens of late 16th 

 century caligraphy, relating to the last of the Martyns of Athelhampton, and 

 read the following note thereon : 



The earlier document, dated 15 June, 12 Elizabeth (1570), bears the signatures 

 of Nicholas Martyii, of Athelhamptou, and Margaret his wife, the latter being a 



